Sundance docs reviews NL

Source: Sundance

[Clockwise from top left]: ‘Skywalkers: A Love Story’, ‘Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story’, ‘Sugarcane’

The documentary side of the Sundance film festival has produced some real critics favourites in 2024, and some hot talking points as well.

Screen picks out some of the docs that our critics enjoyed as this year’s edition, as well as some extra titles that are also worth talking about.

The festival’s winners were unveiled on Friday, with Porcelain War winning the US jury documentary prize, and A New Kind Of Wilderness collecting the world cinema equivalent.

Sugarcane
 Dirs. Julian Brave NoiseCat, Emily Kassie
The generational abuse of First Nation tribes in Canada’s Sugarcane reservation is painfully illustrated by film-maker Julian Brave NoiseCat whose own family bears the scars. Winner of the Directing Award: U.S. Documentary. 
Read the review

Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story 
Dirs: Ian Bonhote, Peter Ettedgui 
A careful assembly of archival footage of the actor pre- and post-spinal injury is an increasingly moving testament. Warner Bros in exclusive talks for worldwide deal reported to be in $15m range.
Read the review

Soundtrack To A Coup D’Etat
Dir. Johan Grimonprez
Small gem of a film tracks the assassination of the DRC’s Patrice Lumumba in 1961 and how the CIA used Black American musicians in their so-called war against communism in Africa. Winner of the World Cinema Documentary Special Jury Award for Cinematic Innovation.
Read the review

Eno  
Dir.  Gary Hustwit
Different every time you see it! ‘Generative documentary’ which changes on every viewing is also an interesting take on one of music’s more innovative talents.
Read the review

War Game 
Dir.  Tony Gerber, Jesse Moss
 Simulation which recreates a Capitol attack.
Read the review

Will & Harper 
Dir.  Josh Greenbaum
Will Farrell hits the road with his close friend Harper, a trans woman.
Read the review

Skywalkers: A Love Story
Dir.  Jeff Zimbalist
Two Russians hit the rooftops with a freefall of dazzling images. Netflix has acquired worldwide rights.
Read the review

Ibelin
Dir.  Benjamin Ree
A paralysed boy lives on through his titular Avatar. Aquired by Netflix. Winner of Audience Award: World Cinema Documentary.
Read the review

Union  
Dir.  Stephen Maing, Brett Story
Pushing for justice and better working conditions from Amazon. Winner of U.S. Documentary Special Jury Award for the Art of Change
Read the review

Black Box Diaries  
Dir.  Shiori Ito
Journalist Shiori Ito recounts her gruelling decision to go public in a rape case against a close friend of the Japanese premier.
Read the review

Bubbling under: 

Look Into My Eyes  (psychics in New York), Daughters  (a father-daughter prison dance), Tendaberry  (patchwork experience of New York post-lockdown), Gaucho Gaucho  (Argentine horse wranglers), Porcelain War  (artists and preservation in Ukraine), A New Kind Of Wilderness  (a family isolates itself in Norway), Agent Of Happiness  (how to measure contentment in Nepal), Love Machina  (enduring love via AI), Girls State  (anticipated follow-up to Boys State), Frida  (Kahlo, in her own words).

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